New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-02
FISH ERY NEGOTIATIONS.
WY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WANTED
NEW TREATY ARRANGED.
.r.rvr, rrsr THE CANADIANS SHOULD PROVOKE
SERIOUS coLLIsIoN-MR CHAMBERLAINs
sELEcr1oN-THE NORTH HUNTS ELEc-
TIoN-MR. o'BRIEN's DEFIANCE
MRS. JAMES BROWN
IBY CABLE TO THE TRrBuNE.1
Cooryjohf. 1887: The Nep- York tribune.

Fisheries Commission was an entire SURPRISE W
the public on this side Of the water. Those VINO
had known negotiations were going on did NOS
know they were so near completion. Sir James
Fcrgussons statement was volunteered TO the
House. Nobody had asked q question, nor has
public attention in England been directed recently
70 this subject. The Government however, have
never been free from anxiety. They were quite
aware of the hostile spirit in which Canada
conducted her proceedings, and they have long
been apprehcnsive that the vexatious inter-
ference of the Canadians with American
vessels might lead to q serious COLLISION. All
the pressure, therefore. has come from England
The American Government long refused to enter
upon discussion of q new Treaty while so many
cases Of Canadian outrage remained unseoieo
and unsatisfed under the old. Lord SALISBURY
could not see his way to any adjustment. Inc
sympathics of Enslishmen with English colonies
have lately been strong. Their knowledge OF the
facts was slight and their prejudiCcs might
readily have been worked upon had this Gov
crnment embedded as it is in other difficulties,
thrown over the Canadians or insisted on some
mitigation of their seventies to American fisher
men. Hence Lord Salsbury's pcrtinacious efforts
for that new Commission he has now got; hence
the eagerness to make it known before the subject
was quito ripe for publicity, as it is assumed
here that the Canadians cannot continue their
cnterprises against American vessels now that the
whole question is to be sent before the new Com
mission. That is the best excuse for Sir James
Fergusson's haste.
The premature statement here might have proycd
embarrassing to the Government at Washington
for more reasons than one 1t is understood
however that President Cleveland has already
settled the composition of the American half OF
the Commission. He will appoint one Dcmocrat
one Republican and one representative oil inc
fishing interests. These three nominations have
been agreed on and the positions oncred 10 'he
Individuals selected.
Mr.. Chamberlain's appointment as FIRST Com-
missioner for Great Britain has caused more
discussion here than the Commission itelf. 1hrec
days ago it had not been thought Of. The man
In Lord Salisburys mind was the Earl OF Gar
narvon, but he discovered amid his meditat'ons
that Carnarvon had just sailed for Australi".
Chamterlain's enemies treat hts acceptance u
the post as confession of political failure. lhcy
cav that the Tories wished to get rid of him MS
an inconvenient ally, and he himself wishes 10
be out of the way while the Home Ruie battie
is being fought. 1t would lie Impossible 10
talk greater nonsense. Mr.. Chamberlain as first
Fisheries Commissioner is, from the British point
of view, the right man in the right place There
is no abler man of business. no man more capable
t,on, no man more acute, more ready more eA-
psrienced in affairs. You will find him more
American than English in his power of graspms
pr,nciplcs by his lucid accuracy OF mind III
he has fault as a negOtiator 1t is that ne ID
too stubborn. He wants hcxIbility, is SLOW 10
compromise, but singularly accessible to new
IDEAS, while his good will to America is OF the
r,ost cordial kind
The scope OF tie Commission was not Indicated
by Sir James FERGUSON, otherwise than as IN
GLIDING all questions arising out OF the North
American fisheries. 1t is understood that ~
will have large powers of inquiry, will summon
witnesses and aim at reaching definite conclusions
which nay form the basis of treaty between
two Powers. The English Foreign Office Will
exJect to be kept constantly informed OF tne
proceedings of the Commission. Every decision
viii require to be ratified by the Government.
The English press has received the news oil
the Commission with expressions OF mild saus-
faction. Some of them discuss H. rs II possessed
of larger powers than can possibly be delegated
to such u body. What is hoped here, however,
Is that the Commission may arrive at some
agreement on points incapable of strict legal
definition or not governed by precedent, such as
the headland question and sundry others arising
under the existing treaty. The Times main
tains a curious silence though only the day before
seizures of British vessels in Alaskan waters.
The Tory victory in North Hunts is made
much of by the Tory press. The Liberals. though
they professed not to expect to win, are slightly
disappointed. They had made very great efforts
and it was believed had drawn off q large propor-
ton of the agricultural vote The Tories say
that this is true, but that Hodges detection
was made up by the transfer OF the more intel |
gent artisan vote from the Radical the Con-
servative side
Mr.. O'Bren's speech in Dublin is, hear. re-
garded by the Governments as distinct menace
to the suppression of the League. No tactics |
would SUIT the Tories better; no mistake could |
be greater from the League point OF view.
The strength Of the Irish position In England
lies in the fact that the Irish are able to say
that Ireland is crimeless That is what makes
Coercion unpopular. But IL the League makes
war on the Queens Government popular sympathy
in England will support the Government. Mr.
OBrien, however, has not committed himself, |
much less anybody else. to this belligerant pro-
gramme. His declaration OF only q |
suggestion for another Irish field night on Tues
day in the House Of Commons when Mr.. Healy, |
Mr. Tanner and sundry OF their colleagues turned |
the discussion of Irish estimates into personal |
attacks on Mr.. Balfour and Colonel Kng-IIar-
man. Mr. Courtney. whose impartalty Is ex- |
tremely sympathetic toward the Irish, had to |
threaten sharply to stop hostil ties. Mr. Bal |
four took notice Of these personalities So |
conscientious is the Irish examination OF Irish |
estimates that but six votes have been obtained |
In three long sittings.
Not an, more decisive sign of the dul ess Of
season could be shown than the space the
papers give to the British Association which met
yesterday at Manchester and sits through next
week. Sir Henry Roscoe's able presidential ad-
dress deals almost solely with chemistry, his
own subject.
Mrs. Potter has received from America fresh
proposals. from other managers since it became
known that Mr.. Miner had broken his contract